A pack.
Paige had thought the word was just one of those cute camp terms. Now, watching the kids converge on a blushing, smiling Hetta, she finally understood what it meant.
By the time evening fell, she was feeling far more optimistic about the rest of the summer. Conleth, on the other hand, seemed to get progressively twitchier throughout the day. More than once, she caught him eying the campers warily, fingers tapping against his thigh.
“Is something wrong?” she murmured to him at the evening campfire, while most of the kids were busy arguing over who’d gotten an unfair share of marshmallows in their hot chocolate. “I thought you’d be happy they’re finally getting along.”
“I’m thrilled for them,” he muttered back out of the corner of his mouth. “And also moderately terrified for myself. Archie and Beth have had their heads together all day.”
Paige glanced around. The pairdidseem to be exchanging surreptitious whispers a little distance from the rest of the group.
“Well, that’s good, isn’t it?” She handed Conleth a mug of hot chocolate. “At least they’re talking to each other now.”
“That’s what worries me.” He took a sip, watching the two kids as though there was a ticking countdown hovering over their heads. “It was bad enough when they were actively sabotaging each other. I’m not sure I can survive the two of them working together.”
Whatever the kids were plotting, it seemed they were about to find out. Beth stood up, clearing her throat to attract everyone’s attention.
“Archie has something he wants to say to you, Uncle Conleth,” she announced. “Don’t you, Archie?”
Somewhat less enthusiastically, Archie stood up as well. Looking rather like he’d been gifted a free root canal, he faced Conleth.
“I’ve always thought,” Archie began in a sullen mumble, “you’re a huge butthead.”
Ignatius looked from Archie to Beth. “You spend all day workshopping, andthisis what you come up with?”
“Shh.” Beth made an encouraging gesture at Archie. “Go on, Archie.”
“I didn’t like you right from the start, when Buck made me do that detention with you.” Archie glowered at Conleth. “You used big words, and you were really picky about boring stuff like numbers. And you always wore that stupid suit, and looked like you’d never touched dirt in your entire life. After five minutes, I knew everything people at camp said about you was true. You really were a giant control freak who hated anything fun.”
Ignatius raised a hand. “Are the rest of us allowed to join this public roast, or is it only Archie?”
“What Archiemeansis that’s how heusedto see Uncle Conleth.” Beth jabbed Archie with an elbow. “Isn’t that right, Archie?”
“Right.” Archie thrust his hands into his pockets, scowl deepening. “That’s what I thought about you. Until this summer.”
Beth beamed at him.
Archie fixed Conleth with a disgruntled glare. “Now, I know you’re even worse.”
Beth’s smile froze.
Conleth, however, seemed to be enjoying himself. He took a long, unhurried drink from his mug, contemplating the two children over the rim.
“Interesting,” he said mildly. “Care to expound on that, Archie?”
Archie needed no further encouragement. “You’re not just a boring guy in a suit. You’rewayweirder than that. You come up with all these crazy ideas and plans, and when they don’t work, you switch direction and keep going. And you havezerochill. Less than that. Like,negativechill. No one has ever hadas little chill as you. You could probably melt a whole iceberg by standing nearby.”
“I really don’t think—” Beth started, desperately.
“I don’t get you at all.” Archie folded his arms, glaring at Conleth. “And I don’t like you, either.”
Beth had the expression of a public relations aide watching a carefully briefed political candidate completely ignore his autocue.
“But…” Archie heaved a sigh. “My sister does. For some reason.”
Conleth glanced at her, one eyebrow raising in silent inquiry. Paige pressed her lips together, fighting back giggles.
“I do,” she said, trying her best to keep a straight face. “For some reason.”
